This is a gift to me, really, that Christine Lindsay would post this article on the week of my 53 wedding anniversary. http://www.christinelindsay.org/2016/02/only-god-by-guest-brenda-wood-as-told.html
Monthly Archives: February 2016
The Last Five Pounds
| “I’m tired of losing the same five pounds over and over.” I guess my friend was tired of my whining. This is her reply.
“Then don’t lose them! If you lose something then you usually look for it and then you find it. Try releasing it to Jesus in prayer and worship and watch him get the glory. It may not happen overnight or as quickly as you want but it will happen in His timing.” How will you use this wisdom in your own life? It applies anywhere from pounds to people. Think of the bad attitudes, the cranky relatives and the size twenty slacks that keep turning up in our vicinity. This is the only finding we should be worried about. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, NIV)
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Steve Harvey
| They say confession is good for the soul and if that is true, Steve Harvey’s soul must be in great shape! Imagine being in front of huge audience, in person and round the world on social media. You announce the winner of the Miss Universe Contest, 2015 and read out the wrong name!
Yes, that happened to Mr. Harvey but as soon as he found out that he made a mistake, he immediately admitted that the error was entirely his own fault. That kind of character is extremely rare in today’s world. It was just are rare in Bible times. Take a look at Saul. “What have you done?” Samuel asked. Saul answered, “My soldiers were leaving in all directions, and you didn’t come when you were supposed to. The Philistines were gathering at Mishmash, and I was worried that they would attack me here at Gilgal. I hadn’t offered a sacrifice to ask for the Lord’s help, so I forced myself to offer a sacrifice on the altar fire.” (From 1Samuel 13:11-12 CEV) Results: Saul lost his place as king, while Steve Harvey is expected to host next year’s Miss Universe.
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Fabric Art by Brenda J Wood
Happy Birthday Randy!
Like Riding a Bike
I was a little anxious about babysitting my friend’s grandchild. My skills in the infant department are a bit rusty.
“Never mind,” she quipped. “It’s just like riding a bicycle. You never forget.” (Thankfully, she didn’t test me on that!)
It’s true though. There are certain invaluable things that never leave us, if we first take the time to learn them.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8, KJV)
Prayer – Well, Lord, we are grateful for remembering about bikes and babies but even more for learning your word, walking in it and expecting your help to keep it. Amen
Original
| I’m forever sending my family members encouraging blurbs (which they seldom acknowledge!), but when I sent this one, I got a reply.
“When I think about the past, I become resentful. When I think about the future, I get scared. Any day when I think about today is a good day.” Here is the reply. “That’s based on an old free verse, mom. Here it is: I was regretting the past and dreading the future when the Lord spoke to me: MY NAME IS I AM. He paused, I waited. He continued: WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE PAST, WITH ITS MISTAKES AND REGRETS, IT IS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY NAME IS NOT ‘I WAS.’ WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE FUTURE, WITH ITS UNKNOWNS AND FEARS, IT IS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY NAME IS NOT ‘I WILL BE’. WHEN YOU LIVE TODAY, IT IS NOT HARD. MY NAME IS ‘I AM.’ And here is the original I Am: And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be. (Exodus 3:14a, AMP)
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“Quit your worship charades.
“Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenceless. (Isaiah 1:16-17 MSG)
Well if that isn’t clear, I don’t know what is.
Jacob’s Mess
I never know which house I’ll be, I am the last to know.
While Leah’s having babies, Rachel doesn’t know
How she’ll live without them. She blames me right and left.
Me? I’ve fathered everywhere. I’ve left no one bereft!
Leah’s home is full of babies, a full half-dozen now.
And both wives sent their maids to me. (To keep the peace, I bow.)
The maids might wish for better. Their sons aren’t really theirs.
I think of Grandpa Abe and his Hagar/ Ishmael cares.
Oh woe is me, I am undone. My life is full of stress.
I was happily a bachelor and now I’m in this mess!
Be careful when you desire a life different from the one you have. You might get it!